ISLAMABAD, April 21: The government has made it compulsory for teachers and school staff to attend the referendum rallies of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
According to the documentary evidence obtained by Dawn, the district education officers have been made responsible to ensure participation of the school staff in the the president’s rallies.
Minutes of the meeting held at the office of a district education officer of Punjab on April 9 show that orders were issued for strict compliance of instructions regarding participation in the rallies.
The headmasters were asked to provide a list of the school staff in the union councils.
To ensure attendance of the school staff, it was directed that all heads of schools would submit a list of their teachers, PT teachers and other staff in the office of the assistant education officers by April 10. Those failing to comply with the directive would themselves be responsible for the consequences, the orders said.
Moreover, every school headmaster in the district was ordered to prepare three copies of the lists of their respective school staff under the titles of serial number, name of the staff member, designation, name of the school and a column for signature.
The minutes of the meeting inter alia stated that President Gen Pervez Musharraf would reach Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad on April 14 at 3pm.
The directives made it obligatory for the school staff and teachers to assemble at the Government Islamia College Sargodha Road at 1pm on April 14. It said the attendance of the staff would be registered before and after the referendum rally. Those found absent would be proceeded against under the relevant Ordinance 2002 and removed from service, the order said.
It further said a meeting of all school headmasters and assistant education officers would be presided over by the district education officer at Pakistan Model High School Kutchery Bazaar at 12 noon.
Moreover, evidence shows that government departments have been directed to place the official vehicles and petrol at the disposal of the city administrations on April 30, the day the referendum is scheduled to be held.
According to another document obtained by Dawn, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued directives to its various departments and directorates to place the official vehicles at the disposal of the assistant commissioner Islamabad for referendum duties.